By Ikenna Nwokedi 

History was made on Tuesday, 17th December 2024 as Nnamdi Azikiwe University, Awka held the maiden edition of His Royal Majesty Obi Nnaemeka Achebe annual public lecture on Igbo Repository.

The public lecture with the topic, “Onitsha Traditional Society – Origin, Spread and Culture” held at the ASUU Secretariat UNIZIK was aimed as showcasing the rich cultural values, heritage and traditions of the Igbo race and the need to document activities and practices of the tribe in the past and the present day.

Declaring the event open, the Chairman of the occasion and the Governor of Abia State, H.E. Dr. Alex Otti in his remarks stated that the discussion on Igbo Repository will illuminate the journey of Onitsha people and undying spirit of the Igbo race. Governor Otti who was represented by his Deputy, H.E. Engr. Ikechukwu Emetu averred that the lecture series provides an opportunity to understand Onitsha culture and its enduring ties to other Igbo communities.

The Abia State Governor pointed out how crucial it is in documenting the heritage, cultural values and traditions of Ndigbo. He thanked the Ag. Vice-Chancellor and the planning committee for the vision and dedication to the lecture which he described as apt and timely.

In his address, UNIZIK Acting Vice-Chancellor, Prof. Joseph Ikechebelu stated that the UNESCO 2012 report which predicted that Igbo language would become extinct by the year 2025 is a worrying development which should be looked into to avert such occurrence.

Prof. Ikechebelu lamented that presently, English language is insidiously becoming the mother tongue as against the Igbo language with other aspects of the Igbo culture subtly being eroded under the onslaught of globalisation and modernisation driven by digital technology.

The Acting VC informed that there is a strong need for concerted efforts to save the history of the igbo and their culture from going into perdition which has necessitated the creation of a central hub where data, information and other resources on the Igbo people and their culture are stored, managed and made accessible, a rationale for the establishment of the World Centre for Igbo Repository in Nnamdi Azikiwe University.

In his welcome address, the Chairman of the Planning Committee, Prof. Godwin Onu stated that the foundation of the Obi Achebe World Centre for Igbo Repository is a tribute to the rich history and culture of the Igbo people. Prof. Onu disclosed that the Centre will serve as a vital resource, safeguarding and promoting the unique cultural heritage and traditions of the Igbo people for future generations.

Prof. Onu also affirmed that the initiative is also dedicated to reviving igbo’s forgotten history, exploring folk tales and examining the origins of the Igbo nation while disclosing that the lecture series named after HRM Nnaemeka Achebe will rotate its focus annually examining other regions of Igbo extraction.

In his remarks, the Royal Father of the Day and 14th Asagba of Asaba, Obi (Prof.) Epiphany Chigbogu Azinge stated that there is still a lot of hypothesis on Igbo history after more than 7000 years and time has come to resolve and establish the truism of Igbo history which should be domiciled in the archives.

The traditional ruler of Asaba kingdom highlighted some of the rich cultural values, heritage and traditions of Ndigbo while emphasising the need to have an Igbo Repository that will document all activities of the special tribe.

In his lecture on the topic, “Onitsha traditional society – origin, spread and culture”. The celebrant and the traditional ruler of Onitsha Kingdom, HRM Obi Nnaemeka Alfred Achebe highlighted the origin of Igbo nation in three hypotheses such as autochthony, internal migration and external migration. 

The monarch disclosed that the mega-igbo civilization existed 7000 years before Egypt with historical evidence from Nsukka/Afikpo support of autochthony hypothesis and internal migration which suggested unitary origin with Edo, Yoruba , Jukun and other tribes.

Agbogidi highlighted the origin and migration of Onitsha based on the four hypotheses about Chima Dynasty. He lamented that Onitsha of today has lot it’s groove, verve and much of its history but however the community remains untranslated and un-replicateable.

Igwe Achebe while highlighting the challenges faced by the cosmopolitan city averred that there is need to determine the linkages of Igbo, Yoruba, Edo and other language groups as well as interrogating the authenticity of eluwa’s book, need for closer relationship amongst Ezechima descendants and government urgent action to restore the integrity of Onitsha.

Others who aired their views on the need for Igbo Repository were the Former Governor of Anambra State, H.E. Mr. Peter Obi who was represented by the Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Academic), Paul University Awka, Prof. Chinyere Stella Okunna and the Executive Governor of Enugu State, H.E. Dr. Peter Mbah represented by the Commissioner for Water Resources in the state, Dr. Felix Nnamani.

Highpoints of the occasion was the foundation stone laying of the World Centre for Igbo Repository, UNIZIK performed by the Abia State Governor representative H.E. Engr. Ikechukwu Emetu in company of UNIZIK Ag. Vice-Chancellor, Prof. Ikechebelu, Igwe Achebe and other top dignitaries at the colourful occasion.